How to back up MacBook without Time Machine

Googling how to back up a Mac to an external hard drive without a Time Machine? Well, look no further, you've landed in the right place.

Backups are essential for Mac users who want to keep their data safe and sound, and the Time Machine is not the only option. Today you'll learn the best ways to back up your Mac with and without Time Machine. Let's go!

Why Backup Your Mac?

There's nothing like learning the hard way how important backups are. Your Mac could get damaged, stolen, or infected with malware, or your macOS can accidentally crash. If something goes wrong with your Mac, and you haven't done any recent backups, you could face the devastating loss of unrecoverable work, files, images, and other dear-to-your-heart data. And here's why backing up to an external drive should be a priority and a part of your regular Mac maintenance routine. There is no better way to secure your files and save some valuable space.

There are plenty of different ways you can back up your Mac. Take a look at some of the top options out there:

• Time Machine.

• Third-party software.

• Cloud storage: iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive.

Let's dive deeper into each option to help you choose what works for you. 

Why Time Machine backup might not be the best option

For years, Apple's native Time Machine backup software was the first port of call for users looking to secure their data against hard drive failure. 

With Time Machine, you can protect your files free of charge, automatically, and with relative ease. But while Time Machine gets the job done, its reliance on local storage, for many Mac users, isn't enough leaving some of you wondering... "How to back up your Mac without Time Machine?"

Here's an overview of some of the Time Machine pros and cons:

Pros:

• No monthly costs

• Local backup

• Versioning options

• File previews

Cons:

• Time Machine can be slow

• Utterly reliant on external drives

• Drives can be damaged, lost, or stolen

• Malware infections can pass to external drives

• Overcomplicated setup

Luckily, Time Machine isn't your only option. Jump to the next step to learn how to back up a Mac without a Time Machine.

How to back up Mac to an external hard drive

For those who like the idea of local backup but not with Time Machine, I have good news for you: there's another way!

We'll get to the manual backup in just a moment, but first, before you conduct any kind of backup, give your Mac a quick cleanup. There's no point in backing up all your system junk and clutter too. 

Take some time to clear away all of your built-up cache files, temporary or broken files, your Downloads folder, and empty your Trash. 

If you want to save time, I recommend using CleanMyMac. This app has a really awesome Cleanup feature that not only clears your system junk but also optimizes your Mac all at once. Here's how it works:

1. Launch the app—download the free version here.
2. From the left sidebar, select Cleanup
3. Press Scan, then once complete, press Clean.

Now your Mac is nice and clean, let's take a look at manually backing up your data.

How to Prepare an External Drive for Mac Backup

Prior to backing up anything to your external drive, there's a little prep that needs to be done.

First, check how much storage your external drive has to make sure there is enough space for backups. Second, if you never formatted your external disk, it needs to be done. To do that, we are going to use Disk Utility:

1. Connect your external hard drive, then open Applications > Disk Utility.
2. Select your external drive, and click Erase.
3. Choose the needed format and click Erase.

Voila! Your external drive is all set and ready for a backup. Here's how to back up your data manually:

1. Plug your chosen external hard drive in; once loaded, open it.

2. Create a new folder inside and give it a name.

3. Locate your Mac startup disk in Finder or on your desktop and open it. Press Users, then select all the folders and data you want to back up, drag this into your newly created folder on your external drive and wait for the copy to finish.

That's it! This can take a while if you're copying over lots of files. Don't forget to eject your external hard drive safely (failing to do so can corrupt files and folders.) Here's how:

1. Select your external drive either via Finder or via your Desktop.

2. Right-click and select Eject.

Tip: If you have an old Time Machine backup, you may need to restore your files before moving to another backup method. Here's a guide on how to do it.

How to back up Mac to a cloud storage

If you don't like the sound of a manual backup, no problem, there are plenty of third-party backup tools with cloud storage available; here are my top three recommendations.

1. EaseUS Todo Backup

EaseUS Todo Backup for Mac is a reliable data backup and disaster recovery tool, combining macOS clone with file sync functions, data backup, and archive. 

Let's look at some of the benefits:

• Free trial available

• 30-day money-back guarantee

• Tech support

• Over 530 million users worldwide 

For anyone looking for Time Machine alternatives, this is a great option. 

2. SuperDuper

SuperDuper for Mac is considered a user-friendly backup and recovery tool. Even non-technical Mac users would find it easy to use with its clean and intuitive interface. 

SuperDuper benefits:

• Free trial available

• Wide range of features

• Hard drive clone

3. ChronoSync

ChronoSync is an all-in-one solution for backups, file syncs, cloud storage, and bootable backups. A comprehensive and reliable choice. Let's take a closer look:

• Free trial available

• File and folder synchronization​

• Quick recovery

• Backup to external or network Volumes

Tip: Sometimes, combining different backup methods is the best way to keep your data safe. To learn about additional ways to back up your Mac, including Time Machine, check out this article.

Knowing how to back up your Mac to an external hard drive without a Time Machine not only gives you options but empowers you to make the right choice.

No matter which option you choose, manual or third-party tools, backups are vital against data loss. So make them regular, and don't forget to clean up your Mac first.

Happy backing up, and stay tuned!